Self-righting instrument cap device

ABSTRACT

A writing instrument and cooperating cap therefore wherein the writing instrument has a cap receiving portion and the cap has an instrument receiving well, a specifically located center of gravity, and an outer curved surface.

United States Patent [191 Roberts [54] SELF-RIGHTING INSTRUMENT CAPDEVICE [76] Inventor: Evan D. Roberts, 818 Elm, Flossmoor, lll. 60422[22] Filed: Sept. 25, 1970 [21] Appl. No.2 75,622

[52 u.s.ci ..4o1/202 [51] int. Cl. ..B43k 9/00 [58] Field of Search.;..40l/243, 202, 247; 46/155 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,632,977 3/1953 Valasek ..46/l55 X 3,323,798 6/1967 Miller.;..L ..46/l55 X [451 Jan. 23, 1973 9/l9 l2 Fouquier ..40l/l3l 466,201l2/l89l Tubbs ..40l/247 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 616,406 8/1933Germany ..40ll243 Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles Attorney-John B.Dickman [57] ABSTRACT A writing instrument and cooperating cap thereforewherein the writing instrument has a cap receiving portion and the caphasan instrument receiving well, a specifically located center ofgravity, and an outer curved surface.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAH23 1973 3,712,749

I N VEN TOR.

EVAN D. ROBERTS ATTORNEY SELF-RIGIITING INSTRUMENT CAP DEVICE SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to a writing instrument andcooperating cap for covering and protecting the marking point of theinstrument. Ordinarily, a writing instrument such as a felt tip pen isprovided with a cap to protect the tip from drying out or to precludeother damage and prevent the pen from making unwanted marks.

When such a pen is to be used, the cap therefor is removed and placedhorizontally some place out of the way, among or under the papers orother adjacent materials on the writing surface or desk; or possibly,the cap is held in one hand while the pen is used. When it is ultimatelydesired to replace the cap, the cap may be lost in the papers oradjacent material on the desk and very difficult, if not impossible, tofind. This, of course, often results in leaving the cap off of the pen,causing the undesirable result of damage to the pen.

If the cap is found after completion of use of the pen, and the pen andcap are reassembled, the procedure comprises holding the cap in thefingers of one hand while the pen is replaced therein by the other hand.If the assembler is in a hurry or if for some other reason, the pen andcap do not register exactly, the pen will miss the cap and mark on theassemblers fingers to produce further undesirable results. Also, astationary desk pen well is not adequate for the usual portable use ofpens inasmuch as it requires that the pen remain on the stationary wellon the desk to obtain the benefits thereof.

In view of the above referred to problems, among others of related andsimilar nature, the inventor has conceived the present cooperating penand cap invention wherein the pen is provided with a cap receivingportion and the cap is provided with a convex external surface extendingaway from a pen receiving well thereof and with a center of gravitypositioned within the convex surface. Thus, a writing instrument isprovided with a cap cooperating with a pen wherein the cap can bediscarded casually from the instrument to a surface while the instrumentis in use, and a cap which will thereby also always provide a readilyaccessible upright well for receiving the instrument without requiringspecific holding or other manipulation of the cap to preserve theavailability of the cap and to provide a readily accessible and fullyportable instrument well.

Other advantages and/or novel aspects of the invention will becomeapparent upon examination of the following detailed description, inconjunction with the following attached drawing wherein:

FIG. I discloses the writing instrument or pen and cap of this inventionwith the cap thereof placed on the writing instrument to cover andprotect the writing portion thereof;

FIG. 2 illustrates the use of the writing instrument on paper or thelike with the cap shown as casually discarded and self-righted forreadily receiving the partially illustrated instrument after usethereof; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view of this invention with the capsectioned and shown in place on the writing instrument.

A writing instrument and cap device, generally represented by thenumeral 10, is disclosed in the figures for the purpose of illustratingand describing an embodiment of this invention. The device 10 isprovided with a cap 11 and a cooperating writing instrument 12 such as afelt pen. The pen 12 has a body 13, a cap sealing portion 14, a cappositioning shoulder 15 and a writing tip 16.

The cap 11 generally includes a longitudinal portion 18 made of plasticor the like, an end portion 19 and a pen receiving well 20. The well 20in the longitudinal portion 18 is adapted to frictionally receive thecap sealing body portion 14 with the tip 16 within the well 20 and witha cap well edge 21 adjacent or in engagement with shoulder 15 to limitthe longitudinal position of cap 11 on sealing portion 14.

Cap end portion 19 may be provided with an outer plastic shell 23 andhas a convex outer surface 24 having a flat chordal surface or spot 25on the longitudinal extreme thereof. The flat surface 25 may be coatedor otherwise provided with a friction surface. Dense material 26, suchas lead, is provided in end portion 19 so that cap 11 will have a centerof gravity 27 (FIG. 3) within the volume defined by the convex surface24.

In operation, cap 11 is frictionally removed from pen 12 and is casuallydiscarded in any convenient horizontal surface as shown by the brokenlines (FIG. 2). The center of gravity 27 of cap 11 will cause the cap torock on the convex surface 24 until the cap establishes an uprightposition as shown (FIG. 2). The flat surface 25 provides a stable basefor the upright position to allow cap 11 to attain upright equilibrium.Further, the friction material which may be placed on the flat surface25 will provide a more reactive basis for supporting the cap 11 forreceiving the writing instrument in the well thereof.

The cap 11 thus positioned provides an upwardly opening pen well,supported on the horizontal surface to frictionally receive the sealingportion 14 of the pen 12 with the tip 16 in cap well 20. Thus, a pen 12is provided with a cooperating cap ll which provides a protective penwell 20 that is readily accessible regardless of how casually the cap 11is discarded or treated. Further, if the pen l2 missed the cap 11 uponattempted reassembly therebetween, the pen 12 will not mark the user.Also, after reassembly, the cap II will automatically be attached to thepen for portable protection thereof notwithstanding the fact that thecap is as accessible and readily usable for assembly with the pen as astationary desk pen well would be.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thespecific constructions and arrangements shown and described, as it willbe understood to those skilled in the art that certain changes may bemade without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A writing instrument comprising an instrument body having a markingend portion adapted for insertion in an instrument well, and a separatecap body having an instrument well with an opening positioned thereinfor protectively receiving and retaining said instrument marking endportion, said cap body having a convex external surface portion oppositethe opening of said well and a center of gravity located within saidconvex portion, whereby said cap will tend to rock when detached fromsaid body and placed on a horizontal surface and thereby bring theprotective provide a basis for equilibrium support of said cap in theinstrument receiving and retaining position.

2. A writing instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said surfaceportion is provided with a high friction surface to provide a frictionreaction basis for'equilibrium support of said cap in the instrumentreceiving and retaining position.

1. A writing instrument comprising an instrument body having a markingend portion adapted for insertion in an instrument well, and a separatecap body having an instrument well with an opening positioned thereinfor protectively receiving and retaining said instrument marking endportion, said cap body having a convex external surface portion oppositethe opening of said well and a center of gravity located within saidconvex portion, whereby said cap will tend to rock when detached fromsaid body and placed on a horizontal surface and thereby bring theprotective opening of said well to an upright instrument receiving andretaining position for protectively receiving and retaining said markingend portion by rocking on said convex portion under the effect ofgravity, and said convex external surface having a flattened supportingsurface portion on the extremity thereof away from the well opening forresisting rocking movement of said cap over and beyond said surface toretard reciprocating rocking motion of said cap on said surface and toprovide a basis for equilibrium support of said cap in the instrumentreceiving and retaining position.
 2. A writing instrument as defined inclaim 1 wherein said surface portion is provided with a high frictionsurface to provide a friction reactIon basis for equilibrium support ofsaid cap in the instrument receiving and retaining position.